History Main / BeautifulDreamer

* In Volume 3 of ''Manhwa/DemonDiary'', [[TallDarkAndSnarky Eclipse]] watches [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Raenef]] sleep briefly after he starts [[{{Flashback}} reminiscing about the past]] and feeling uncharacteristically sentimental.

* Played with in the ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} miniseries ''[[ComicBook/CatwomanWhenInRome When In Rome]]'' (the conclusion to ''ComicBook/TheLongHalloween''). Selina is rendered briefly comatose after being frozen by an ice gun stolen from Mr. Freeze. The Riddler (whom she brought along to help piece together the mystery of her parentage) watched her the whole 3 days she was unconscious, which Selina initially thought was very kind of him, until he adds, "Of course, getting you out of the outfit was hardly unpleasant."
* Spoofed in an early issue of ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}''. Deadpool watches his X-men girlfriend Syren sleep through her bedroom window. He thinks how what he's doing used to be considered romantic, but nowdays is considered "stalking" and generally frowned upon.
* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}''

* There is one point in a run of ''ComicBook/NewTeenTitans'' when Beast Boy resists the urge to wake ComicBook/{{Raven}} because of this. She admits that she liked it, but she's still not interested.

-->-- '''Raven''' doing a very bad job of letting Beast Boy know that she's not interested, ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''

* There is one point in a run of ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' when Beast Boy resists the urge to wake ComicBook/{{Raven}} because of this. She admits that she liked it, but she's still not interested. [[SarcasmMode Yeah]], [[EveryoneCanSeeIt sure]].

** In chapter 3 [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] climbs into [[HeroesWantRedheads Shinji]]'s bed. Shinji is unable to get any sleep that night, but he blushes as he stares at her sleeping.

* ''Film/TrueGrit'' (2010). Mattie when she's asleep looks attractive enough that Texas Ranger [=LaBoeuf =] considers stealing a kiss, or so he claims. He changes his mind when she wakes up and starts sassing him.

* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'': Happens ''how'' many times to Sousuke? First, apparently Tessa got into a habit of creeping out of her bed and watching him happily while he sleeps. And then, Kaname gets her turn when she's giving him a [[ImportantHaircut haircut]], and he falls asleep. Instead of waking him immediately, she stares longingly at him (er, his lips, that is). And then it's implied that a whole ''group'' of guerillas that used to be his comrades did this to him while he was sleeping - he was so [[{{Bishonen}} pretty]], apparently all of them were watching him and [[EvenTheGuysWantHim getting close to jumping him]]. This includes Zaeid, who is shown in a flashback to have been lovingly watching Sousuke as he sleeps.

* In an extra chapter of ''Manga/NatsumesBookOfFriends'', a girl from Natsume's middle school comes across him inexplicably sleeping on the steps of a shrine. She gets close enough to notice that the ([[SilentScapegoat supposedly]]) disturbed boy from her class is [[{{bishonen}} quite pretty]]. And then he wakes up and freaks the hell out.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Tiza suffers a PowerStrainBlackout during a mission and so Nolien carries her into an ally's airship to rest. He tucks her into bed and [[AffectionateGestureToTheHead strokes her hair]], coaxing a rare smile from her sleeping face. He delays rejoining the others and this prompts Kallen to ask how long they've been dating.
* ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}'': Lochan and Maya watch each other sleep at different points in the book.
-->'''Maya:''' He is sound asleep, taking those long, deep, rhythmical breaths, his face turned toward me. It's not often that I have him so near-not since we were young. It is strange to observe him at such close range; I see things I've barely noticed before.
* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' Peeta tells Katniss that he likes watching her sleep because she doesn't scowl.
%%* Rek and Virae in ''Literature/{{Legend|1984}}'' by Creator/DavidGemmell.

* Briefly mentioned in ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' during a musical montage of [[EverythingTalks living objects around Elmore]] in "The World": a pillow on a bed creepily mentions that "I like to listen to your dreams."

* In ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', Jill (the village girl from the Fairy Arc) does this to Guts when she finds him sleeping in a wrecked, abandoned house. She ends up sitting next to him, watching him sleep until she [[SleepCute falls asleep on his lap]] more in a DaddysGirl style than romantic, considering she never gets a good night sleep with her [[AbusiveParents real parents]].
** Later post-Conviction Arc [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/0b257f439c08d7fb0982fd9cc4a0b183/tumblr_pa7pgtDanJ1vl67eeo1_r1_1280.jpg Guts strokes Casca's head]] while she's sleeping by their campfire promising he'll always protect her.
* Ciel Phantomhive from ''Manga/BlackButler''. Subverted in that everyone seems to like watching him sleep, so it can be taken in a non-romantic way as well.

* Episode 5 of ''Anime/DeathParade'' shows [[TheStoic Decim]] verbally expressing how interesting he finds his assistant and that he’s keeping her around to [[spoiler: study and ultimately judge her]]. It’s made clear that this is extremely odd behavior for an [[{{Psychopomp}} Arbiter]] to display. The episode ends with him carrying his passed out assistant to bed, with a ComfortingComforter and a LongingLook before leaving. Notable because this episode is the first one where we see him display any emotion or care for someone.

* In chapter 13 of ''Manga/PandoraHearts'' Gilbert watches Oz sleep.

* In one of the volumes of ''Manga/TheRoseofVersailles'', Oscar falls asleep on André's shoulder. He notices and is about to wake her up, until she does so herself and declares that she won't marry anyone.
* In the ''Anime/SailorMoon S'' movie Usagi comments that she likes to watch Mamoru sleep, Luna then later thinks about Usagi's statement as she watches Kakeru Ozora - who she has developed a crush on, despite her being a cat and he human - sleep.

* In chapter 109 of ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn'', Yona finds Hak napping after he stayed up the previous night on nightwatch and giggles to herself about how cute he is. The scene provides an adorable parallel to her usual insistence that he's [[{{Tsundere}} "not cute"]].

* Played with in the ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} miniseries ''[[ComicBook/CatwomanWhenInRome When In Rome]]'' (the conclusion to ''ComicBook/TheLongHalloween''). Selina is rendered briefly comatose after being frozen by an ice gun stolen from Mr. Freeze. The Riddler (whom she brought along to help piece together the mystery of her parentage) watched her the whole 3 days she was unconscious, which Selina initially thought was very kind of him, until he adds, "Of course, getting you out of the outfit was hardly unpleasant."

* Spoofed in an early issue of ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}''. Deadpool watches his X-men girlfriend Syren sleep through her bedroom window. He thinks how what he's doing used to be considered romantic, but nowdays is considered "stalking" and generally frowned upon.

* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12023508/1/Kaitō-Kokoro Kaitō Kokoro]]'' Kiku—[[spoiler:[[VoluntaryShapeshifter while in Clouded Leopard Form]]]]—thought of Feliciano as one.
-->"Rrr..." Piercing ebon orbs remained locked onto the human, taking in every feature of the one they observed: limpid brown eyes that were windows into a bright soul, rich caramel locks which appeared silky to the touch, smooth cheeks that had a healthy red color to them, full supple lips which looked to be as soft as petals and morphed into the most brilliant of smiles, a chest that held such a warm heart, a slim frame hidden behind the covers...piercing ebon orbs took all of that in.
* Mackenzie does this to a sleeping Brittnay in [[https://www.wattpad.com/49797714-a-turn-of-events-brittany-and-mackenzie-fanfiction this]] ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'' fanfiction.

* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': In chapter 1, after sleeping in the same bed for first time, Shinji wakes up and spends a while staring at Asuka.
-->''He stood by the bed for a moment, burning the sight into his memory.''
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'':
** In chapter 2 Shinji contemplates Asuka as she is sleeping, and he thinks she looks like an angel.
--->''Shinji is looking down at Asuka. She has a dreamlike smile on her face.''\\
'''Shinji''' (to himself):''"When she wants, she can be a real little angel..."''
** In chapter 9 Shinji hesitates about waking Asuka up because she looks cute as she is sleeping.
* ''Manga/Evangelion303'':
** In chapter 3 [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] climbs into [[HeroesWantRedheads Shinji]]'s bed. Shinji is unable to get any sleep that night, but he blushes as he stares at her sleeping.
** In chapter 14 Shinji wakes up and realizes Asuka has been watching him as he slept.
* ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs'': After her [[spoiler:MindRape]] Shinji and Asuka sleep together. During the night Asuka wakes up due to a [[CatapultNightmare nightmare]] and stares at Shinji for a while, thiking of how beautiful he looks and how much she loves him.
* ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'': Done by Shinji and Asuka several times in the [[AfterTheEnd post-End of the World]] chapters when they start sleeping together.
** Chapter 6 begins with Shinji looking at Asuka as she sleeps and thinking of how much he enjoys staring at her beautiful face.
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': In chapter 19 Shinji gazes at Asuka as she sleeps and he marvels at how peaceful she looks and thinks he could spend hours watching her.
-->''Turning his head, he saw that he and Asuka were mostly still in the same position they'd fallen asleep in; her head wasn't on his shoulder anymore, but her arm was still draped across him.''\\
''She looked so peaceful, a far cry from her state during most of her recent waking hours. He felt like he could've watched her for hours.''

* A nonromantic example in ''FanFic/AtGatesEdge''. As a ghost, [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003 Edward]] doesn't need to sleep but he would find it soothing to watch his friend Roy sleep. Roy admits that he would have found it creepy for anyone else. Since it’s Edward, who he knows is harmless, he just finds it cute.

* ''Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars'' features a scene where Bariss Offee finds herself watching Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Ahsoka Tano while considering Peter’s role in finding the cure for the blue shadow virus that almost killed the two Padawans, and then tries to focus on the Jedi mantra to avoid facing her feelings for her 'dear friends'.
* ''Fanfic/ShadowAndRose'' gives the trope a playful TakeThat, when [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Alistair]] notes, "I probably shouldn't watch her sleep. It's kind of creepy."
* ''Fanfic/TangledUpInYou'' has a fairly brief one, when Marinette notes that Adrien is "so adorable when he's asleep" but lies down to sleep herself soon after, not really lingering on him.
* ''Fanfic/CorrinReacts'': Corrin thinks this of Flora when he finds her asleep on his shoulder during the Festival two-parter. He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades the weirdness of watching her sleep]] and muses that [[TheGadfly Azura]] would never let it go if she caught him.

* ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/373613?view_adult=true Details]] has Zoe watching Wash sleep. He wakes up when she traces a finger on his skin and kisses his neck. He asks if she’s molesting him in his sleep and when she asks if he has a problem with it, he says he’s just glad he woke up before the fun part. Slightly NSFW as it ends with them having sex.
* In ''Fanfic/TheBeastOfGusu'', Wei Wuxian has a habit of going to sleep later than Lan Wangji, so he often indulges in watching his husband sleep, since he’s beautiful even then. Sometimes, he even wakes up just for that express purpose.

* Howl of ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle'' watches Sophie sleep after a hard day's work cleaning. Of course, he's also motivated by the fact that [[spoiler: it's the only time the aging spell cast on her by the Witch of the Waste wears off, revealing her true age.]]

* Slightly averted in ''Film/BladeRunner'', when Deckard, fearing Rachael was killed by Gaff in her sleep, cries and kisses her when he hears her breathing.

* ''Film/{{Sunshine}}'' has a scene in which Capa wakes from a nightmare to find Cassie in his room, presumably having been watching him sleep. (Deleted scenes stated that Capa and Cassie were in fact sleeping together, which would give a better reasoning for her being in his room watching him.)

* ''Film/TheBreakUp'' has Gary find his now ex-girlfriend Brooke asleep in their condo's living room. He watches her for a moment, smiles, and then makes his exit instead of waking her up.
* In ''Film/TheIcePirates'' when Jason first sees Princess Karina she is sleeping. He leaves her asleep after being rudely interrupted just as he was about to grope her breasts, then comes back for her before the pirates leave her ship.
* In ''Film/DonJuanDemarco'' there's a sweet little bit where Dr. Mickler keeps watch over the peacefully slumbering 'Don Juan'.
* In ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'', Hellboy and Abe are gazing on a sleeping Liz after they've had a beer or three, and getting rather maudlin about it.
-->'''Hellboy:''' Look at her. She's it, Abe. She's it. She's my whole wide... You know?\\
'''Abe Sapien:''' Yeah. Yeah.\\
'''Hellboy:''' I would give my life for her. ''([[MenCantKeepHouse grumbling]])'' But she also wants me to do the dishes.\\
'''Abe Sapien:''' [[InsaneTrollLogic I would die and do the dishes.]]
* Played for creepiness in ''Film/AnimalKingdom''. Pope carries the teenage girlfriend of his brother to bed, then lingers and stares at her as she sleeps. The brother catches him looking at her, prompting Pope to hastily leave.
* ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'': Used humorously rather than for romance when Captain America hears the following from his biggest fanboy, Agent Coulson:
-->'''Coulson:''' I watched you while you were sleeping. (''{{beat}}'') I mean, I was present when you were unconscious from the ice.
* A short and platonic version occurs in ''Film/TheThinRedLine'': Sgt. Welsh spends several seconds watching the peacefully sleeping Witt, betraying that he does harbor affection for his men and is not as cold-hearted as he seems.
* ''Film/{{Colombiana}}''. This causes trouble for Cataleya when her boyfriend takes a photo of her sleeping and shows it to a friend, who decides to run a check through another friend in the police department to find out who the mystery girlfriend is, right when the FBI are trying to match a security camera shot of an unknown female assassin.
* In ''Film/MiaoMiao'', Ai finds the titular character sleeping and takes to chance to put fake whiskers on her face, take pictures with her, and cuddle. It's LessDisturbingInContext.
* ''Film/IngridGoesWest'': Played for disturbing effect; on day two of their friendship, Ingrid takes dozens of pictures of her Instagram idol while she's sleeping for no reason but to satisfy her idolatrous love.
* ''[[Film/HoratioHornblower Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.]]'': Hornblower has an opportunity to admire the beautiful Lady Barbara when she's sleeping, ill and feverish. He nurses her and takes a vigil.
* In one of the [[https://youtu.be/pO6wDBss8PI trailers]] for ''Film/NoTimeToDie'', Bond stands in a doorway and gazes at his lover Madeleine as she sleeps.
* Subverted in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' Elizabeth Swann as a girl strokes the unconscious Will's face when she first meets him, this causes Will to wake up and startled grabs her hand forcing Elizabeth to calm him down. There's subtle CallBack to this in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest sequel]], as after Jack knocks Will out on Isla Cruces Elizabeth strokes his face to wake him up, this time Will just smiles at her remembering.
* In ''Film/PlanB'', Bruno and Pablo fall into the habit of sleeping together [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed in the same bed]]. It's totally platonic and just them being really good friends... except for the part where the man who wakes up first stares silently at the other man's half-naked body for a while.

* ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'' tries to invoke this trope with Edward sneaking into Bella's house at night to watch her sleep, but since he's ''[[StalkerWithACrush actually sneaking into her house at night to watch her sleep]]'', the effect sort of [[{{Squick}} backfires]]. It fits better with this after Bella and Edward are actually in a relationship, and she allows him to snuggle with her every night and watch her sleep.

* Happens in ''Literature/{{The Trumpet of the Swan}}''. The eponymous character watches his love interest sleep, and contemplates what song to play to wake her up. He picks ''Beautiful Dreamer,'' the trope namer.
* There's a charming scene in ''Gaudy Night'' in which Harriet Vane watches over Literature/LordPeterWimsey after he falls asleep in their punt. In the narration, author Dorothy L. Sayers even points out that one must love someone for the sight of them sleeping to inspire tenderness rather than mockery.
* The last book of ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' Artemis watches Holly while she's unconscious, but she was knocked out earlier and isn't actually sleeping. It either case, it doesn't go anywhere.
* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' Peeta tells Katniss that he likes watching her sleep because she doesn't scowl.
* In ''Literature/RogueSorcerer'', Aiden watches Claron sleep after she rescues him from the Tower, taking solace in her peaceful appearance.
* A non-romantic example occurs in ''Literature/WingsOfFire''. [=RainWings=]' scales are [[ChameleonCamouflage constantly changing color]]. So, Queen Scarlet captures a [=RainWing=], she treats her like a living piece of art- to be admired even during sleep.

* Rek and Virae in ''Literature/{{Legend|1984}}'' by Creator/DavidGemmell.

* In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer'', Tom watches Becky drowsing off to peaceful slumber when they are lost in the cave.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Tiza suffers a PowerStrainBlackout during a mission and so Nolien carries her into an ally's airship to rest. He tucks her into bed and [[AffectionateGestureToTheHead strokes her hair]], coaxing a rare smile from her sleeping face. He delays rejoining the others and this prompts Kallen to ask how long they've been dating.
* ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}'': Lochan and Maya watch each other sleep at different points in the book.
-->'''Maya:''' He is sound asleep, taking those long, deep, rhythmical breaths, his face turned toward me. It’s not often that I have him so near-not since we were young. It is strange to observe him at such close range; I see things I’ve barely noticed before.
* Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin wrote an entire essay about this trope (and sleep in general) called "Staying Awake". She goes beyond the romantic connotations and argues that people are more innocent when they're unconscious (being unable to act or express themselves), noting the taboo many cultures have against killing a sleeping enemy.

* ''VideoGame/Persona3'':
** Aigis (RobotGirl) watches the male main character sleep at more than one point. She doesn't just watch him sleep, she picks the lock of his room (and has gotten good enough to time her improvement) and watches him all night; making sure his pillow is fluffed, etc. It would be creepy if she weren't utterly and completely innocent.
** At the [[spoiler:very end of the game]], it looks like the story is going to invoke the trope in the most basic form... [[spoiler:but the sleep he's falling into [[BigSleep is final]].]]
** Note that all of the above is also applicable to the ''female'' protagonist in ''Portable''. LesYay ahoy. A NewGamePlus will let you choose who gets to be with you at the end, for both genders.

* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' features this briefly at the beginning of Act 3, where a ''very'' exhausted Ryu sleeps with his head on Nina's lap. [[MoodWhiplash Made jarring]], however, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide when you learn why]] [[UnstoppableRage Ryu was like that]] in the first place...
* If you romance Aerie in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' (and provided you don't screw it up), there'll come a point where she'll admit to having watched you sleep the night before and how it made her feel safe doing so.

* When Rean catches the chronically-overworked StudentCouncilPresident Towa napping in one of the classrooms in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'', he puts his jacket on her and lets her rest until she eventually comes around. It happens again in ''Cold Steel II'', but this time she wakes up almost right away, and laments that he always seems to find her this way.
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', Tharja tells the Avatar that he turned over 12 times in his sleep during their first support conversation.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', at one point Princess Zelda falls asleep on [[HumongousMecha Divine Beast Vah Naboris]] while [[CoolBigSis Urbosa]] keeps her comfortable. Link, who has had trouble getting along with Zelda at this point, comes across Zelda sleeping in Urbosa's arms, and Urbosa gently brings up the various reasons Zelda [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex has resented Link for being able to fulfill his own destiny]] in the fight against Calamity Ganon.
* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'': [[PlayerCharacter V]] can do that to [[TheRockstar Kerry]] or [[GadgeteerGenius Judy]] in the [[spoiler:"Path of Glory" epilogue]].
* ''VisualNovel/ALittleLilyPrincess'': A platonic case. The route focusing on Lottie, Sara's younger friend to whom she plays a surrogate mother role, has an event in which the two of them have two-person slumber party and Lottie is the first to fall asleep. Sara ends up watching her sleep while reflecting on their "mother-daughter" relationship and eventually kissing her forehead. One of the two images that can be unlocked in Lottie's route consists of the part of that scene in which Sara is watching.

* ''Webcomic/EerieCuties'', with [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/Hello%20Aceford Brooke falling asleep on Aceford's shoulder.]] [[LuminescentBlush Blushes]] abound.

* In season two of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', Barriss Offee and Ahsoka Tano are trapped aboard a MeatPuppet-infested starship in "Brain Invaders." Barriss is herself taken over and turns against Ahsoka, who can not bring herself to kill her friend. When Ahsoka finally manages to subdue Barriss, [[LesYay she cradles her in her arms and holds her unconcious body until Ahsoka passes out as well]] and [[SleepCute lies with her]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has a more comedic example, with [[ParentalSubstitute Pearl]], [[TheNeedless who doesn't sleep herself]], admitting that she likes to watch Steven sleep.
-->'''Pearl''': I like to watch you sleep sometimes. And by "sometimes", I mean "often".
* Briefly mentioned in ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' during a musical montage of [[EverythingTalks living objects around Elmore]] in "The World": a pillow on a bed creepily mentions that "I like to listen to your dreams."

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Finn admits watching Jake sleeping.

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'': Happens ''how'' many times to Sousuke? First, apparently Tessa got into a habit of creeping out of her bed and watching him happily while he sleeps. And then, Kaname gets her turn when she's giving him a [[ImportantHaircut haircut]], and he falls asleep. Instead of waking him immediately, she stares longingly at him (er, his lips, that is). And then it's implied that a whole ''group'' of guerillas that used to be his comrades did this to him while he was sleeping - he was so [[{{Bishonen}} pretty]], apparently all of them were watching him and [[EvenTheGuysWantHim getting close to jumping him]]. This includes Zaeid, who is shown in a flashback to have been lovingly watching Sousuke as he sleeps.

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' tries to invoke this trope with Edward sneaking into Bella's house at night to watch her sleep, but since he's ''[[StalkerWithACrush actually sneaking into her house at night to watch her sleep]]'', the effect sort of [[{{Squick}} backfires]]. It fits better with this after Bella and Edward are actually in a relationship, and she allows him to snuggle with her every night and watch her sleep.

* Dean Winchester of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has made his opinion on this trope very clear: he calls the ''{{Literature/Twilight}}'' example "rapey" and refuses to let Cas watch over him while he sleeps.

** Elena watches Stefan (the vampire) while he sleeps. He calls it creepy, while she defends it as being romantic. Almost certainly a TakeThat to ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''.

* Rek and Virae in ''Literature/{{Legend}}'' by Creator/DavidGemmell.

'''Hellboy:''' I would give my life for her. ''([[MenCantKeepHouse grumbling)'' But she also wants me to do the dishes.\\

'''Hellboy:''' I would give my life for her. ''(grumbling)'' But she also wants me to do the dishes.\\

* Episode 5 of ''Anime/DeathParade'' shows [[TheStoic Decim]] verbally expressing how interesting he finds his assistant and that he’s keeping her around to study and ultimately judge her. It’s made clear that this is extremely odd behavior for an [[{{Psychopomp}} Arbiter]] to display. The episode ends with him carrying his passed out assistant to bed, with a ComfortingComforter and a LongingLook before leaving. Notable because this episode is the first one where we see him display any emotion or care for someone.

* "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (also known as "The Film/{{Armageddon}} Theme Song") by Music/{{Aerosmith}} is about this.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': According to [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl Alpha]], Akira looks sweet and cute once he gets used to sleeping in a safe bed. Before then, he'd sleep with one eye open while desperately hoping he wouldn't be dead the next morning. The manga adaptation depicts him sleeping curled up in a ball and hugging the blanket with a gentle look on his face, drooling into his pillow before waking up in a daze.

* ''Anime/SwordArtOnline'': In Episode 11 of Season 1, Asuna watches Kirito as he sleeps, while the two are in the house they purchased to live together after marrying (in-game), and she thinks about how he's usually so bold, yet now he looks naive and innocent, almost like a child. And all of a sudden it strikes her that he might actually be younger than her (and she's right).

* ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'': Ryuuji watches Taiga sleep multiple times because the tiger is less ferocious at this time.